The Columbian

FILE - A cyclist passes over the Glienicke Bridge between Potsdam and Berlin, Germany, on May 6, 2009. They sometimes see those who are part of the swap as they pass each other on an airport tarmac or, as in the Cold War, the Glienicke Bridge connecting West Berlin to Potsdam. In decades of prisoner exchanges, those released have included spies, journalists, drug and arms dealers, and even a well-known athlete.

Kremlin acknowledges intelligence operatives among the Russians who were freed in swap

August 2, 2024, 8:45am Nation & World

New details emerged Friday on the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War, with the Kremlin acknowledging for the first time that some of the Russians held in the West were from its security services. Families of freed dissidents, meanwhile, expressed their joy at the surprise release. Read story

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris greet Paul Whelan at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., following his release as part of a 24-person prisoner swap between Russia and the United States, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.

3 newly freed Americans are back on US soil after a landmark prisoner exchange with Russia

August 2, 2024, 8:44am Nation & World

The United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on Thursday, with Moscow releasing journalist Evan Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan, along with dissidents including Vladimir Kara-Murza, in a multinational deal that set two dozen people free. Read story

Officials assess a small building after a fire in Manila Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. A fire swept through a part of the small building in Manila’s crowded Chinatown district Friday, police said, adding that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the blaze.

A fire sweeps through a building in Manila’s Chinatown, killing at least 11

August 2, 2024, 8:44am Nation & World

A fire swept through a part of a small building in Manila’s crowded Chinatown district Friday, leaving at least 11 people dead, police said, adding that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the blaze. Read story

Children play a card game on a public beach in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, July 26, 2024.

Masked assailants ransack Venezuela opposition leader’s headquarters as post-election tensions mount

August 2, 2024, 8:43am Nation & World

A half-dozen masked assailants ransacked the headquarters of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Friday in the latest escalation of violence against opponents of Nicolás Maduro following the country’s disputed presidential election. Read story

FILE - This undated photo provided on July 29, 2024 by the North Korean government, shows a flood-hit area in North Phyongan province, North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: “KCNA” which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency.

Rain-related disasters have killed more than 250 in a deadly week across Asia

August 2, 2024, 8:41am Nation & World

In India and China, torrential rains have killed more than 250 people in the past week. Three others died in Pakistan. Widespread flooding has been reported in North Korea near the border with China with no word on whether anyone died. Read story

Nation & World

Kremlin acknowledges intelligence operatives among the Russians who were freed in swap

3 newly freed Americans are back on US soil after a landmark prisoner exchange with Russia

A fire sweeps through a building in Manila’s Chinatown, killing at least 11

Masked assailants ransack Venezuela opposition leader’s headquarters as post-election tensions mount

Rain-related disasters have killed more than 250 in a deadly week across Asia

SpaceX knocks out company’s 50th Space Coast launch of the year

After Trump’s appearance, the nation’s largest gathering of Black journalists gets back to business

Mourners pay respects to slain Hamas leader Haniyeh as worries of regional war mount

Hurricane Carlotta forms over Pacific Ocean as it moves away from Mexico

Heat deaths of people without air conditioning, often in mobile homes, underscore energy inequity